Cadillac Goes Long with Its New CTS Sedan

Cadillac's new 2014 CTS sedan debuts a more sophisticated design phase for the General Motors Co. luxury car division. GM formally introduced the car on Tuesday at the New York auto show.

The larger CTS retains Cadillac's signature sharp-edged look. But it adds more sculpted side panels, a Bentley-like trunk lid and a far more aggressively styled front end with an enormous Mercedes-like grille.

The new model gains 1.2 inches of wheelbase and is five inches longer and about one inch lower than the outgoing model. The revised proportions give the car a more lithe appearance than its predecessor.

The new CTS weighs less than this year's 3,900-lb model, thanks in part to aluminum suspension components and Cadillac's first-time use of aluminum doors. GM claims the car will be lighter than all others in its class, which includes the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedans.

The midsize sedan rides on the rear-drive Alpha platform that also carries Cadillac's compact ATS sport sedan. The 2014 CTS is fitted with standard Brembo brakes, electrically assisted power steering and MacPherson struts in front and a five-link suspension in back. GM's Magnetic Ride Control dampers are available for the first time in all trim levels.

Buyers will have three engines to choose from, led by a 420-hp twin-turbo V-6 that can propel the CTS Vsport edition from zero to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds. That trim level includes 18-inch wheels, performance tires, a quicker steering ratio, heavier-duty cooling system and an electronic limited-slip rear differential. Drivers can select a "track mode" that firms up the steering and chassis settings.

Less energetic engine options include a naturally aspirated V-6 that makes about 321 hp and a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-banger that delivers about 272 hp.

The two larger engines get ZF's eight-speed automatic transmission, a first for Cadillac. The smallest powerplant and optional all-wheel-drive systems use a six-speed automatic.

The CTS also debuts Cadillac's first automatic park assist option and the brand's first use of automatic seatbelt tighteners that adjust belt tension in real time according to driving conditions. Among the car's optional electronic safety systems are adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, blind zone alert, panic brake assist and rear vision camera.

GM will begin building the new CTS at its plant in Lansing, Mich., this autumn.